Rochester lawmaker who sat next to wiretapped Castro: “He always seemed to be in a happy mood”

Former Assemblyman Sean Hanna, R-Mendon, Monroe County, sat next to Assemblyman Nelson Castro for two years. Never did Hanna expect Castro was wearing a wire.

“He was always very cordial, very jovial,” Hanna recalled. “He always seemed to be in a happy mood. He always called me by my last name, ‘Hey, Hanna. How’s it going? What are you doing, Hanna?”’

Castro, an assemblyman from the Bronx, resigned Thursday after the U.S. Attorney’s Office revealed that he had been an informant for four years. His cooperation led to Assemblyman Eric Stevenson, D-Bronx, to be arrested on bribery charges.

Castro’s indictment was expected to be unsealed today after he was charged in 2008 with perjury charges.

Hanna, who lost re-election last year, said he had no clue about Castro’s past or that he was wearing a wire. And unlike some lawmakers who may be sweating over what they told Castro, Hanna said he’s not worried.